Researches Regarding the Attack Produced by Cur- Culio Glandium Marsh

Researches Regarding the Attack Produced by Cur- culio glandium Marsh. in Production Unit II Badacin Belonging to the Şimleul Silvaniei Forestry Depart- ment

1) 2) 1) 1 ) Ion OLTEAN , Nicolae FODORAN , Teodora FLORIAN , Mircea Ioan VARGA 1) , Romania. [email protected] Department of Environment2) and Plant Protection. University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Şimleul Silvaniei Forestry Department Print ISSN 1843-5254, Electronic ISSN 1843-5394 Bulletin UASVM Horticulture 71(1) / 2014

Abstract Curculio glandium Cydia (Laspiresia) amplana Curculio glandium Among the species of insects that attack acorns the most common are Marsh. (acorn weevil) and (rusty oak moth). The larvae of chew irregular galleries in the oak acorns, transforming the acorn cotyledons into a crumbly mass filled withCurculio black excrements.glandium Content acorns partially consumed by one larva, or are chewed entirely by two larvae. In theŞimleul period Silvaniei 2011-2012 forestry we proceededdepartment. to In monitor order to the evaluate frequency the frequencyof attack at of acorns, attack produced by the .Curculio The research glandium was conducted in 2011-2012 in production unit II Badacin, unit that belongs to Quercus petraea Quercus robur. acorn In weevil, , in three cantons (Măgura, Giurtelec and Cehei) was determined Curculiothree control glandium points.. Selected trees are: sessile oak and pedunculate oakCurculio glandium 2011 in the Măgura canton from the total acorns analyzed 304 were attacked by In Giurtelec canton in 2011 the frequencyby Curculio of acorns glandium attacked by was 52.4% and in Cehei canton the frequencyCurculio glandium of attacked acorns was 52.3%. In 2012, in Măgura canton 51.8% of the total acorn were attacked . In the canton of Giurtelec the frequency of attacked acorns by is 62.7% and in Cehei canton the frequency of attacked acorns is 51.2%. In all the cantons it was found an increase in frequency of attack Keywords: Curculio glandium acorn weevil, acorns, rusty oak moth, Quercus. from the basis of the slope to the top of the slope. , INTRODUCTION

that the seedlings that proceed this regeneration In the oak stands increasingly is manifested have higher chances of growth and development a decline phenomenon. In general, forest decline (Holonec, 2007; Oltean and Stana, 2007). is determined by a complex of natural and In the natural regeneration of oak stands a anthropogenic factors that are interdependent. They great importance has the seed reserves existing in work with great aggressiveness in fragile forests the litter. After the seed fall to the ground, a part such as those from the boundary and outside natural of them is consumed by mammals, and those that vegetation areas and in stands strong ecological remain in the litter will germinate the following imbalances (pure stands, single stage,et al without year, whereas it needs a maturation period. The undergrowth, regenerated from shoots, grasslands, germination chances of the acorns decrease etwith al., polluted, etc.) (Holonec, 2004; Holonec ., 2008). the depth reaching the ground, and currently from Increasingly more foresters grant a great impor the seedling survives less than 10% (Peason tance to the natural regeneration of forests, knowing 2002). Curculio glandium 67

Researches Regarding the Attack Produced by Marsh

Among the biotic factors, the pest complex have precocious fallen. The degree of infestation has an important role in natural regeneration is assessed by the percentage of attacked acorns of forests. In this complex, the insects are best from all the fructification using the following scale: represented, followed by mites and nematodes poor infestation up to 10%,et middleal infestation and in the last period inclusive by nematodes. 10-25%,Curculio strong glandium infestation 25-50%, very strongCydia A particularity of pests that attacks the organs infestation over 50% (Roșca , 2011). of fructification is given by the lifestyle (hence present in the acorn, or different larvae of the damage modality) hidden, making their species can be distinguished easily, if they are not populations affected by fewer pests and natural Curculio we observe the excrements predators and the helpful entomophauna of this and emerge holes of adults from the acorn, so group is generally polyphagous pests. Cydia larvae has faeces like sawdust and the The most importantHymenoptera pests in this, group,Lepidoptera which, emerge hole is circular and larval excrement of Dipterain some and years Coleoptera can cause large economic losseset species are granulates and the emerge holes albelongs to the orders: is oval flat (György Csóka and Anikó Hirka, 2006). (Oltean, 2005; Holonec It should be noted that the number of emerging ., 2008). Curculionidae, holes from acorns is not a good indicator for the AmongCurculio the species glandium of insects that attack the acorns number of larvae inside (Anikó Hirka and György are the most common of the family Csóka, 2004) because were found situations especially (acorn weevil). This where from a single acorn through the emerging species attacks the acorn before release. hole came out 11 larvae (Csóka György and Anikóet al, This pest attacks acorns from the oak trees Hirka, 2006). found on the edge of forests or from isolated trees. According to some researchers (Branco The frequency and intensity of the attack are much 2002; Csóka György and Anikó Hirka, 2006) the higher in pure and rare stands. The adult is 5-9 mm infestation of acorns with acorns different species long, with a elongated oval body that varies from of carpophagous insects do not determine the lose dark brown to yellow gray to black. The rostrum of their germination ability. A large percentage of is long, thin and bent down and can reach half its acorns seems to keep the germination ability and body length in males and slightly longer in females. still MATERIALSbe able to produce AND viable METHODS seedlings. The larva is white, legless with a yellowish brown cephalic capsule full developed. The body is slightly Curculio glandium curved, robust with a strong tegument. The pest Monitoring of the attack frequency produced has usually one generation per year and winters by was carried out in the II as larvae in litter, in lodges made of granular soil Badacin production unit (UP), which has an area nymphs. In spring at an average daily temperature of 953.9 ha and is located in the area of the villages of 16-17 degrees Celsius the adults emerge from Badacin, Ilisua, Pericles, Lompirt, Giurtelecu the ground causing the maturation attack. For Şimleului, Cehei Sici and the city Şimleu Silvaniei. oviposition the females make deep holes in the From administrative point of view the production acorns and lay their eggs. The larvaeet willal chew unit is integrated into F.D. Zalãu, Şimleul-Silvaniei irregular galleries acorns transforming the acorn from the NationalCurculio Forest glandum “ROMSILVA”., in three cantons cotyledons into a crumbly mass (Roșca , 2011). To assess the frequency of attack produced by EspeltaQuercus et al, species with larger seeds are often acorn weevil attacked by weevils (Charnov, 1976 cited by (Măgura, Giurtelec and Cehei) were established 2009), these specieset al can be attacked three checkpoints. The checkpoints were installed at both by small and large species of acorn weevils the base of the slope, mid-of the slope and theQuercus slope (Mucunguzi, 1995; Espelta et al, 2009) and large petraeatop. For each control surfaceQuercus were robur selected. three seeds can feed the larvae before they reach the trees. The selected trees were sessile oak embryo (Mack, 1998; Espelta , 2009) and pedunculate oak The control of this pest is made in May- In the experimental trees was determined the June after the fly of the beetles that produce the horizontal projection of the crown on the ground. maturation attack (by shaking crowns on tilt) Under each tree were collected some fell acorns and in late summer and fall, after the acorns (harvesting was done uniformlyBulletin UASVM Horticultureover the 71(1) surface / 2014 68 et al

OLTEAN projection). In the two years of observation, the In 2012 the Mãgura canton the surface acorn was harvested from control points between projection of the three trees from that were 20 to 30 September. harvested the acorns was 129.8 meters at the base The collected acorns were taken to the of the slope, 122.8 meters at middle of the slope laboratory, where we proceeded to sort the collected and 125.8 meters to the top of the slope. material on two categories: healthy acorns and Of the three2 monitoring points 953 acorns attacked acorns. All collected acorns were analyzed, were analyzed and were collected on average 2.4 in the sense that apparently healthy acorns were to 2.6 acorn/m average numbers of acorns per sectioned to detect all infestations. In the case of square meter crown projection was 39.2 units.Curculio attacked acorns the pest affecting it was determined. glandumWhen the seeds were analyzed was reported oligopodIn the caseslarvae where in the pests werepolypod still larvaein the that 494 acorns were attacked by acorn the identification was made by type of larvae , representing 51.8% of the total acorn ( weevil and analyzed, an increase of 11.4 percentage points in red caterpillar the acorn). In the acorns left by from year 2011 (Tab. 1). larvae, the identification was based on features of On all three points the attack frequency was leaving opening (circular hole in acorn weevil and 42.1% at the base of the slope (an increase of oval-oblongRESULTS hole AND in acorn DISCUSSIONS red caterpillar). 7.4% since 2011), of 49.3% in middle of the slope (increase of 10.4% than in 2011) and 63.6% at the top of the slope (increase of 16% since 2011). In 2011 the Măgura canton of three monitoring In the Giurtelec canton in 2011 of three points 752 acorns were analyzed and were collected monitoring points 763 acorns were analyzed (Tab. 2). on average between 2.1 to 2.4 acorns/mCurculio (Tab. glandum 1). , Out of the total analyzed acorns 52.4% were When the seeds were analyzed was reported attacked by acorn weevil (400 attacked acorns that In304 Curculio acorns were glandum attacked by of the 763 analyzed acorns). Again the attack representing 40.4% of the total acorn analyzed. frequency shows an increase in from the bottom the attack frequency of the slope to the top of the slope (45.3% at the shows an increase from bottom of the slope to the base, 52.7% at the middle and 59.7% at the top). top of the slope (34.7% at the base, 38.9% at the In 2012 the surface projection of the three middleTab. 1 and 47.6% at the top). trees from that the acorns were harvested was

Health status of the acorns in 2011 and 2012, in Măgura canton forest stands

examined Year 2011No. examined Year 2012No. Checkpoint Total acorns Acorns attacked Total325 acorns Acorns attacked42.1 118 38.9% 298 49.3% Base of the slope 216 75 34.7 137 233 111 Middle of the slope 303 147 953 494 51.8 Top of the slope 47.6 330 210 63.6 Average 752 304 40.4 Tab. 2

Health status of the acorns in 2011 and 2012, in Giurtelec canton forest stands

Year 2011 Year 2012 examined No. examined No. Checkpoint Total acorns Acorns attacked Total acorns Acorns attacked 254 115 45.3 85 52.1 % % 144 322 198 Base of the slope 163 141 193 Middle of the slope 273 52.7 61.5 52,.4 Top of the slope 236 59.7 274 70.4

BulletinAverage UASVM Horticulture 71(1) / 2014 763 400 759 476 62.7 Curculio glandium 69

Researches Regarding the Attack Produced by Marsh Tab. 3

Health status of the acorns in 2011 and 2012, in Cehei canton forest stands

Year 2011 Year 2012 examined No. examined No. Checkpoint Total acorns Total acorns 333 Acorns158 attacked Acorns attacked 129 42.2% 355 195 54.9% Base of the slope 47.4 273 78 28.6 191 192 Middle of the slope 306 913 52.3 51.2 Top of the slope 274 69.7 280 68.5 Average 478 908 465 Curculio glandum 122.4 m² at the base of the slope, 136 m² at middle The frequency of attacked acorns by of the slope and 117.6 m² to the top of the slope. is 51.2% (465 acorns contested of the collectedIn this 2.1 canton to 2.4of the acorns/m three monitoring2 points 908 acorns analyzed). 759 acorns were analyzed, on average were Frequency of attack shows an increase from (Tab. 2). The bottom of the slope to the top of the slope: 28.6% average number of acorns per square meter crown at the base of the slope, an 18.8% increase over the projection was 14.7 units. previous year, 54.9% in the middle, an increase of The frequency of attacked acorns is 62.7% 12.7% over the previous year; and at the top the (476 acorns contested of the 759 acorns analyzed). attack frequency was 51.2% with an increase of Frequency of attack shows an increase from 1.1% over the previous year. bottom of the slope to the top of the slope: 52.1% The data presented in the three tables it can be at the base of the slope, an 6.8% increase over the seen that at F.D. level the attack made by this pest previous year, 61.5% in the middle, an increase of has a very high frequency, its value ranging from 8.8% over the previous year; and at the top the 40.4% (in Măgura canton in 2011) and 62.7% (in attack frequency was 70.4% with an increase of Giurtelec canton in 2012). 10.7% over the previous year. In the cantons Giurtelec and Măgura took In 2011 the Cehei canton of three monitoring place an increase in reported frequency of attacks, points 913 acorns were analyzed (333 at the base, in 2012 compared to 2011, and in canton Cehei 306 at the middle and 274Curculio at the glandum top). has been reported a slight decrease in the attack. Out of the total analyzed acorns the frequency In the two years of monitoring the most powerfulCurculio of attacked acorns by is 52.3% glandiumattack was andmanifested Cydia insplendana the canton are Giurtelec. the most (478 attacked acorns of the 913 analyzed acorns). Kelbel in 1996 shows that larvae of Again the attack frequency shows an increase in from the bottom of the slope to the top of the damaging insects which attack acorns, attack slope (45.3% at the base, 52.7% at the middle and is between 36.9% and 5.6% depending on the 59.7% at the top). species of oak. Frequency of attack of the three points of Such a study was done in Croatia in 1991 harvest was 47.4% at the base of the slope, 42.2% when fructification of oak trees were lost (59%) in the middle, and at the top the attack frequency due to the attack of different of harmful organisms was 69.7% (Tab. 3). which include various species of defoliators, In year 2012 the surface projection of the pathogens Curculio that attack just before the flowers to three trees from that the acorns were harvested pollinate, the most important pests of acorns it slope.was 131.3 m² at the base of the slope, 131.3 m² at was species (25%)Cydia and splendanavarious species of middle of the slope and 111.1 m² to the top of the andsmall Cydia rodents amplana (18%). In this research is presented the fact that acorn moths Hübner In this canton of the three monitoring points Hübner is ranked second 908 acorns were analyzed, on average were as importance in group of insect pest, causing collected 2.1-3.3 acorns/m² (Tab. 3). The average damage that varies by location but the average number of acorns per square meter crown infestation is somewhere at 12% (Hrašovec and projection was 21.9 units. Margaletiæ, 1995). Bulletin UASVM Horticulture 71(1) / 2014 70 et al

OLTEAN 2. . .

Csóka, G and A Hirka (2006). Acorn insects in Csóka György and Anikó Hirka (2006) in a Hungary: direct and indirect effects on oaks fecundity. study regarding the weevil insects of oak acorns 3. IUFRO Working. Party.A. Proceedings of the Workshop, showed that the average rate of damaged acorns Gmunden/Austria. varied a lot between the studied years, but was Csóka, G and Hirka (2006). Direct Effects of always significant (2000: 36%, 2001: 61%, 2002: Carpophagous Insects on the Germination Ability and 51%). The premature acorn abscission was 34% 4. Early Abscission of Oak Acorns. Acta. Silv. Lign. Hung. 2: Curculio Cydia 57-68. of the total crop in 2000 for pedunculate oak Curculio Cydia Espelta, J.M., R. Bonal and B Sanchez-Humanes ( Quercus spp. cerris 26%, spp. 2%) and 39% inC. (2009). Pre-dispersal acorn predation in mixed oak glandium2001 ( spp. 14%, spp. 2%). In case forests: interspecific differences are driven by the of in yearC. glandium 2001 the. attack by 5. interplay .among seed phenology,. seed size and predator size. Journal of Ecology. 97:1416–1423. was 16% and in 2002 the attack had decreasedCONCLUSION to 10% for Hirka, A and György C (2004). Emergence period of acorn weevils and acorn moths with special regard to its practical importance. Erdészeti Kutatások 91: 97-105. 6. Holonec, L. (2004). Modern technologies regarding In the Production Unit. II Babacin from Simleu integrated forest protection în Cluj. Publishing House Silvaniei Forestry Department Zalău Forestry AcademicPres, Cluj Napoca. District., the oaks seeds, which ensures natural Curculio glandium 8.7. Holonec, L. (2007). Afforestation - Seeds forest. Publishing regeneration of forest stands are frequently House AcademicPress, 304 p. attacked by . This pest showsCurculio a Holonec, L., I. Tãut and H.D. Vlaşin (2008). Following glandiumtendency of increasing the population level. spoke on the artificial regeneration of areas affected by Frequency of attack produced by calamities. In: Concepts, solutions and ways to reduce 9. environmental pollution, Publishing House Napoca Star, in 2011 ranged from 40.4% (in the canton Cluj-Napoca, 205-209. Măgura) and 52.4% (in the canton Giurtelec) and Hrašovec, B. and J. Margaletiæ (1995). Seed pest impact in 2012 from 51.2% (in the canton Cehei) and 62 on reforestation efforts in Croatia. Shortened version of 7% (in canton Giurtelec). the original poster presented at 1995 IUFRO congress. In all the cantons it was found an increase in 11.10. Kelbel, P. (1996). Damage to acorns by insects in Slovakia.. frequency of attack from the basis of the slope to Biológia (Bratislava). 51(5): 575-582 ISSN 0006-3088. the top of the slope. Mack, A.L. (1998). An advantage of large seed size: It requires the monitoring of health status of 12. tolerating rather than succumbing to seed predators. Biotropica. 30: 604–608. forests, in order to observe from time the attacks 13. Mucunguzi, P. (1995). Bruchids and survival of acacia caused by biotic or abiotic factors and to take the seeds. African Journal of Ecology. 33: 175–183. necessary control measures. Oltean, I. (2005). Specific Entomology - Forest Pests. 14. Curculio glandum a pest For a good natural regeneration of oaks forest AcademicPres Publishing House, 266 p. Quercus petraea stands, it is necessary to protect the seedlings, in Oltean, I. and A. Stana (2007). particularREFERENCES of domestic animals grazing. which reduces the quality of the seed at 1. 15. in hilly tree from O.S. Almaş, D.S. Zalău, Bulletin USAMV- CN, 63:123-126 QuercusBranco, M.,suber C. Branco, H. Merouani, M. H. Almeida (2002). Peason, T.R.H., D.F. Burslem, E. Mullius and J.W. Dalling Germination success, survival and seedling vigour of (2002). Ecology. 83(10): 2798-2807. acorns in relation to insect damage. Forest 16. Roșca, I., I. Oltean, I. Mitrea, M. Tălmaciu, D. Petanec, H. Ecology and Management. 166: 159-164. Bunescu, Rada Istrate, Nela Tălmaciu, C. Stan, Lavinia Micu (2011). Enthomology treaty. Alpha MDN Publishing House.

Bulletin UASVM Horticulture 71(1) / 2014